Thanks to Jimmy Minichello of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards for providing these photos from the recent Mississippi Summit for National Board Certified Teachers. Denecise Salters of Carver Elementary in Tupelo sent the news release that follows.
JACKSON – Seven National Board Certified teachers from Tupelo recently joined forces with more than 200 of their NBCT colleagues for a first-ever education policy summit dedicated to creating solutions to one of Mississippi’s most pressing educational issues – how to attract and retain high-quality teachers in schools that are struggling with teacher turnover and poor student achievement.
Participating in the summit, held in Jackson on Aug. 18, were Ruth Baker, Regina Boyd, Patty Hosch, Pam McAllilly, Alicia Payne, Denecise Salters and Stephanie Wayne.
The daylong summit, sponsored by a coalition of education groups, the Mississippi Association of Educators, the Mississippi Department of Education, the National Education Association and the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, was held at the Jackson Marriott Hotel in Jackson.
“We need to generate concrete, workable recommendations that will foster the conditions for high quality teaching and learning for all students. That’s why this summit was so important,” said Hank Bounds, Mississippi’s superintendent of education. “There is nothing more important in our state than giving every child a quality education, and the recommendations generated by this summit will help achieve that goal as the voices of Mississippi’s NBCTs are heard.”
The summit generated ideas on ways to increase the supply of quality teachers in Mississippi’s high-needs schools. The suggestions and recommendations will be shared with state and local policymakers in a bold effort to address this critical issue.
“National Board Certified Teachers are among the most effective teachers in our classrooms today. By coming together at this summit, their input will be invaluable as we work to build the best possible learning environment for Mississippi’s students,” said Kevin Gilbert, president, Mississippi Association of Educators. “The discussion here today is an example of how our National Board Certified Teachers are at the forefront of education reform.”
National Board Certification is a voluntary assessment program designed to identify, recognize and reward accomplished teachers based on what teachers should know and be able to do. It is achieved through a rigorous, performance-based assessment that typically takes one to three years to complete. As part of the process, teachers build portfolios that include student work samples, assignments, videotapes and thorough analyses of their classroom teaching. Additionally, teachers are assessed on their knowledge of the subjects they teach.
“This summit is a clear indication that National Board Certified Teachers are constantly looking for next steps. They’re looking to create new roles for themselves, whether or not these roles are inside or outside of their own schools,” said NBPTS President and CEO Joseph A. Aguerrebere. “NBCTs want to be part of the overall solution to improve the quality of education for every child in Mississippi.”
Currently, there are more than 55,000 NBCTs in the United States. With more than 2,500 NBCTs teaching in Mississippi’s schools, the state ranks sixth in the country in the number of teachers who have achieved National Board Certification. Mississippi teachers who earn the credential receive an annual state-awarded bonus of $6,000.
“People will see that accomplished teachers have excellent ideas and solutions about how to improve education in Mississippi,” said NBCT Rebecca Pettigrew, who teaches at Beauvoir Elementary School in Biloxi. “This summit marked a unique opportunity for me and my fellow NBCTs to provide a voice for education policy and I was honored to be a part of it.”
Inside the Backpack 